Bowling pin support centering mechanism



Jan. 20,1942. R. E. RUNDELL BOWLING PIN SUPPORT CENTERING MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1940 Patented Jan. 20, 1942 2,270,560 BOWLING PIN SUPPORT CENTERING HANISM MEC Rupert E. Rundell, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to American-Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 21, 1940, Serial No. 326,135

8 Claims.

This invention relates to bowling pin setting machines, more particularly to centering mechanisms for bowling pin supports thereof. An object of the invention is to provide improved pin supporting mechanism on the transfer which receives the pins and sets them up on the alley.

This invention is exemplified in automatic bowling pin setting machines of the type shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 260,091,v filed 'March 10, 1939, wherein the fallen pins swept; from the alley into the pit are elevated into a storage chamber bya conveyor and when all ten pins have arrived in the chamber, are

pin supports of the transfer member of an automatic pin-setting machine equipped with my improved pin centering device;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the pin transfer member showing the paths of the pins from the storage chamber to the cups of the transfer member, and the final position of the transported to cups supported on a transfer member wherein. the pins are deposited in proper formation to exactly fit the spotson the alley when this transfer member is reversed and lowered. -In order to achieve this purpose, the pins must be accurately centered when entering their supports. However during the reversal of the transfer member, the pins, which are suctionally retained in the cups, cant or tilt slightly and hence are deposited slightly ofi center on the spots.

In the present invention the pin supporters may consist of conical cups which are made slightly larger in diameter than the pins and procent their fixed ends for holding the pin within the cup after the pin reaches its innermost position. By making the supporting cups larger than the thickest pin, it is practically impossible for a pin to become stuck in a cup when being transferred to .thealley. In order to accurately position the pins in their cups and to prevent any canting motion of the pins during reversal of the transfer member, there may! be provided spaced leaf springs affixed to the sides of the cups and neartheir free ends having portions which project into position to engage the inserted pins vided with suctional or mechanical means adjapins fordepositing the same on the alley, after reversing the transfer member;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of 0ne of the leaf springs employed in the pin centering device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional elevation of a pin supporter, showing a modification of the centering springs.

Referring to the drawing, the fallen pins P swept into the pit from the alley after a player has thrown a ball, are elevated by a suitable conveyorlnot shown) into a storage chamber ll (Fig. 2) from which, after the desired number of pins such as ten has been assembled, they are carried by chain-operated grippers l 2 along paths l3 to reversedten-pin positions I to ID on a triangular transfer member l4 and lowered bottom side up into cups l5 attached to that member. The transfer it is then turned about itshorizontal shaft I 6 into the dotted position I4 so that the pins P then are upright in proper tenpin formation, ready to be deposited on the spots of the alley for the next ball. Reference may 7 be had to my above mentioned application, Serial No. 260,901,-ior a complete disclosure of the con veyor, storage chamber, chain-operated grippers, and transfer member.

The pin support cups l5 (Fig. 1) are attached to sockets ll on holders i8 arranged in ten-pin or other desired formation on the transfer member M, the pins P being held in these cups, after at their butts. It has been found that four such springs placed 90 p rt p rform very satisfactorily. in holding the,pins centered and that the reversing movement of the transfer member from receiving to delivery position, fails to dislodge or throw the pins off center. Moreover any pins which may be transported and delivered to the cups in a tilted position will be caused to assume a vertical position immediately after being released in the cups.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, andin which like charactors of reference indicate the sameor like parts: Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one of the ten 55 the cup l5 has openings 22 for admission of air insertion, by suitable means such as suction applied within arubber ring l9 closely fitting the head of the pin, by a hose 20 connected to a suitable source of suction and attached to one end of a double nipple, a second hose 2| leading from the other end of the nipple to the next" cup holder. The ring 19 encircles the head of 'pin P when the latter is all the way in cup l5, and

to the outside of ring I 9. Each nipple has a central bore on the ends of which thehoses 20 and 2| are mounted, and the bore communicates through a duct in the nipple .with a hole in a' engages the tip central boss on the socket which of the pin, whereby suction is applied to the tip of the inserted pin. The inner end of the bossis notched to permit application of suction to'the theme. 1

entire head of the pin, and an annular flange is provided on the socket to engage the head of the pin within the rubber ring.

. In order to center the pins P in the cups IS on their insertion therein, axially extending leaf springs 23 are attached in spaced formation to.

the inside of cup l5, each spring near its free end carrying a metal finger 24 projecting radially and inwardly in the cup. The free ends of the springs 23 are bent outwardly and project through openings 25 of the cups. When the cups are empty, the top ends of the springs 23 rest against the upper edges of the openings 25, and their inward movement is limited thereby and the inner ends of fingers 24 define a square somewhat smaller than the circumference of the pin at the butt thereof adjacent its neck, so that the pin P on entering the cup l contacts the fingers 24 and spreads the springs 23. assumed a slightly tilted position in the storage chamber, it will be picked up by the grippers l2 and then displaced into an upright position while being deposited in the cup; Thus if the pin has any tendency to assume a slightly tilted position during or after depositing in the necessarily loose cup l5, the grippers 24 will offset this tendency and maintain the pin in accurately centered relationship to the cup. Moreover during inversion of the transfer member the springs will hold the pin from canting or tilting in the cup so that the pin W111 not be deposited ofi center on its spot, but are sufliciently yieldable to distend and permit the pin deposited on the alley to remain there.

In the modification shown in Fig. .4, the springs 26 are fastened to the outside of the cups i5 and are made with bowed portions 21 which project through openings 28 into the mouth of the cup to engage the pin butt. As a bowling pin enters the cup, it contacts the loops 2'! of the springs 26 and is similarly centered, if in a tilted position when released and restrained from canting during the inversion of the transfer member.

It may be noted that since the inward movement of the springs is limited they will not catch on or interfere with the insertionof the handle end of the pin. In factthe springs need only .fiex sufliciently to accommodate the thickest pin right position on a bowling alley, of locating means loosely embracingv the belly portion of the pin to hold the same in approximate predetermined position with respect to said holding means while avoiding any binding action between the locating means and the pin, and'yielding devices engaging the belly portion of the pin at spaced positions about the periphery thereof to maintain the same in centered position with respect to said locating means;

2. The'invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said yielding devices comprise elements adapted to engage said pin and springs mounting saidv elements and yieldingly urging the 'same'against Thusifapinhas 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said yielding devices include springs urging the pin engaging portions thereof inwardly toward the pin, and means for limiting the inward movement of said springs.

4. In a bowling pin setter having an inverted support and yielding means on said support for gripping the head of an inverted bowling pin, .said support being movable into an upright position to reverse the gripped pin into upright position to bedeposited on a bowling alley; the combinat-ion with a cup mounted on said support and loosely embracing the pin inserted into said means, and members arranged within the interior of said cup to maintain the inserted pin in centered relation relatively to said cup, said members being disposed to engage the butt end of the inserted pin, and being sufficiently yieldable to admit pins of varying diameter and being arranged to hold the inserted pin in centered relation in the cup after the support has been turned to reverse the inserted pin into upright position.

5. In a bowling pin setter having an inverted support, said support being movable into upright position; the combination with a cup mounted on said support and adapted when the support is ininverted position to admit an inverted bowling pin, said cup loosely fitting the belly portion of an inserted pin and being movable with said support from a position wherein the cup is inverted to admit an inverted bowling pin to an upright position to reverse the pin into an upright position to be deposited on a bowling alley, of members disposed within the interior of said cup/to engage the inserted pin and prevent canting thereof during the inversion of said cups.

6. In a bowling pin setter having an inverted support and means on said support for suctionally retaining the head of an inverted bowling pin, the combination with a cup on said support loose- 1y embracing the belly portion of an inverted bowling pin inserted intosaid means and movable withsaid support to an upright position where the bowling'pin will be reversed into an upright position to be deposited on a bowling alley, of means disposed within the interior of said cups to engage the inserted pin and prevent canting thereof during the inversion of the cup.

7. In a bowling pin setter, the combination with an inverted support, of an inverted cup mounted on said support, said cup being adapted to admit an inverted bowling pin and said support being invertible to move the cup to an upright position to reverse the pin and deposit it on an alley in upright position, of members disposed within the interiorof said cup to engage the inserted pin and prevent canting thereof during the inversion of the cup, said means being sufficiently yieldable to release the pin deposited on the alley when the pin to prevent canting or tilting thereof during the reversal of said support.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL. 

